Rail lubricator



R. S. MENNIE RAIL LUBRICATOR Dec. 26, 1933.

Filed June 1, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Q; 95, M ATTORNEY BMW? 51 162121 [6 a gi m \V/IIIIIIIII;

W20 Z2 Z2 Dec. 26, 1933. R. s. MENNIE 1,941,265

RAIL LUBRICATOR Filed June 1, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fia grf 51 16727226 ATTORNEY R S. MENNIE RAIL LUBRICATOR Filed June 1, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l VENTOR fiofizri Mamie .lllllllllq 4M5? ATTORNEY 1 mm [Lu Patented Dec. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFrIcE Claims.

This invention relates to rail lubricators and more particularlyto automatic rail lubricators adapted to apply relatively thick grease to rails with which they are associated, for example, on

6 curves and especially at the beginningof such curves.

Among rail lubricators heretofore in use, there have been some in which the passage of locomotives or cars has been utilized to squirt oil 10 against the side of the rail head but such lubricators have not been particularly satisfactory due, for example, to the tendency of the oil to flow downwardly and in a very short time leave the lubricated area comparatively free from oil.

A thicker lubricant, for example, a grease of substantially the consistency of Vaseline, would be more desirable in that it would stay on the side ofthe rail head long enough to be engaged by a wheel flange and spread over the inner side of the flange as well as the opposed side of the rail head. It is, however, much more of a problem to apply grease than to apply oil in that, for example, it cannot be so easily pumped and especially by. relatively short strokes such as would ordinarily be produced by actuation of a pumping member by rail deflection or engagement by wheel flanges.

. An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved rail lubricator particularly adapted for application of relatively thick grease to a rail head. Another important object is to apply grease to a rail head by hydraulic means operated by the passage of a train or the like.

Other objects and advantages will appear upon consideration of the following detailed description and of the drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a vertical section on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 of structure illustrating a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View on a larger scale of part of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 10 desig ates a rail resting on ties 11. This rail is understood to be at the outer side of the track at a curve and the inner side of the rail head is to be lubricated by grease or other suitable material applied by suitable means, hereillustrated as including three or more nozzles 12 which may be supplied with grease through a flexible tube or conduit 13 and piping 14 connecting the nozzles. For connection with the rail, each nozzle may be formed integral with a clamping member to engage one edge of the base of the rail and be connected by means, 'such as bolt 15'and a nut 16, with a clamping member 17 engaging the other edge of the base of the rail. As shown in Fig. 1, these nozzles-are constructed so as to discharge on the rail a section of a flat ribbon of grease each time grease is forced out of the nozzle. It will be understood that the tip of the nozzle is far enough below the top of the rail to be out of the range of wheel flanges. It is also desirable to space the nozzles at intervals less than the length of the circumference of the wheels passing thereover so that the grease from the different nozzles will not always be applied to the wheel at the same 7 point. For example, if three nozzles are used, they may conveniently be spaced at distances equal .to one-third of the circumferenceof an ordinary car wheel.

The grease or other-lubricant is stored in a cylinder 18 closed at its upper end .by means including a cover 19 having an annular portion 20 resting on the wall of the cylinder and a tubular central portion 21 extending upwardly. The cover 19 is secured to the cylinder in any suitable manner and the tubular central portion 21, which is normally closed at the top is provided at one side with an outlet 22 through which the grease is expelled on itsway to the nozzles 12. As illustrated the connection between the outlet 22 and'the flexible tube 13 is effected principally by a pipe or tube 23 threaded into the outer end of said outlet. The tubular portion 21 oi the cover 19 is also used for inserting a fresh supply of grease into the cylinder 18 and for that reason is provided with a removable cap 24 held in position in any suitable manner, for example, by means of a member or yoke 25 having hooked ends to extend under a flange 25a on said tubular portion 21, and a screw 26 threaded through the central portion of the yoke so that when screwed'down it will hold the cap 24 securely in position. Preferably the screw 26 is provided with a circular head or handle 260, which may locomotives thereover. To this end the cylinder 18 is provided with a piston'27 on a piston rod 28 having at its lower end a piston 29 moving in a power cylinder 30 projecting downwardly of the chamber 38 and the cylinder 18.

from the bottom of the cylinder 18. To prevent leakage around the piston 27, this piston is provided with an annular recess to receive packing 31 which is wedged into place by a device 32. At the upper end of the cylinder 30, the piston rod 28 passes through a head 33 between which and the piston 29 is interposed a helical spring 34 which surrounds the piston rod 28 and tends to move the pistons 27 and 29 downwardly and will do so when the pressure in the lower part of the power cylinder 30 is relieved in a manner to be described hereinafter.

As illustrated, the lower end of the cylinder 30 is closed by means of a head 35 having a passage 36 of which one end communicates with the interior of the power cylinder and the other end is connected in a suitable manner, for example, by means of pipe 87, with a force pump. The liquid, preferably oil, by which the hydraulic pressure is produced is stored in a chamber or receptacle 38 connected with the cylinder 30. The pump is positioned between the main part The chamber 38 also has branches extending around to the sides of the pump which includes a pump chamber 39. At its bottom the pump chamber communicates through an opening or port 40 with a duct 41 connected at one end through a check valve 42 and a pipe 43 with the interior of the chamber 38, and at the other end through a check valve 44 with the pipe 37.

The actual pumping is effected by means of a piston or plunger 45 projecting downwardly through the top of the pump chamber 39, leakage being prevented by means including a packing gland 46. The forcing strokes of the pump are effected by a helical spring 47 interposed between a suitably shaped head 48 on the plunger 45 and a corresponding head 49 on the lower end of a pressure adjusting screw 50 threaded through a bracket 51 projecting from the head or cover 19 of the cylinder 18. The screw 50 may be maintained in any desired adjustment by means of a'lock nut 52. As a result of this arrangement, the action of the pump plunger will be stopped when the pressure becomes too high thus avoiding damage due to excessive pressure.

The upward movement of the plunger 45 is effected by a lever 53 of which one end engages the lower side of the head 48 of the plunger and the other end engages the lower side of the rail 10. At an intermediate point, the lever 53 is provided with a pivot 54 mounted in opposite sides of an auxiliary casing 55 resting on the top of the chamber or receptacle 38. Over the pivot 54 the opposite sides of auxiliary casing 55 are connected by a cover portion but, at a point closer to the cylinder 18, the side walls are made higher and such higher portions are connected at their edges remote from the cylinder 18 with an extension of said cover portion of the auxiliary casing 55. This extension is provided with an opening in which the outer end of the pipe 23- is secured in any suitable manner.

Under some conditions the grease may be forced out of the nozzles too rapidly. This action may, however, be regulated .as desired by permitting part of the oil to be forced back into the oil chamber 38. To this end, the lower wall of the duct 41 is provided with an opening 56 normally closed with a screw plug 57 and the upper wall of the duct is provided with a smaller threaded opening 58 in alignment with the opening 56 so that a regulating device 59 may be inserted through the opening 56 and the base 60 of the regulating device threaded into the opening 58.

The base 69 is in the general form of a screw plug with a duct or passage 61 communicating with the lower end of the screw plug and extending to the upper end thereof where it is flared to form a seat 62 to cooperate with the tapered lower end of a valve spindle or pin 63, thus forming a'needle valve. The spindle 63 is provided at a convenient point with a disk or piston 64 slidable in a cage 65 of which the lower end is threaded over the upper end of the base 60. The cage has ports or openings 66 in the lower parts of its sides to provide communication between the interior of the oil chamber 38 and the duct 61, the passage of oil between the duct 41 and the chamber being controlled by the position of the valve spindle 63 with reference to the seat 62. The valve spindle 63 is urged upwardly by a helical spring 67 surrounding the same and interposed between the top of the screw plug or base 60 and the lower side of the disk 64, and

the position of the valve spindle is determined 1 by means of an extension 68 thereof projecting upwardly through the top of the cage and an adjusting screw 69 in alignment therewith and engaging the upper end thereof. This adjusting screw may be threaded through the wall of the chamber 38 at the upper part thereof and may be secured in any desired position by means of a lock nut 70. The head of the adjusting screw 69 is, as shown in Fig. 3, located between the side-v walls of the auxiliary casing 55 and where the auxiliary casing is open at the top, so that the screw can be actuated from above.

At a point which is above the usual positions of the piston 29, the power cylinder 30 is connected with a pipe 71 which at its other end is connected with the upper part of the chamber 38 which may also be provided with an air vent 72. The air vent 72 causes the air in the chamber 38 to be maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure and the pipe 71 prevents abnormal air pressure in the power cylinder 30 above the piston 29. Also, by properly positioning the point of connection between the pipe 71 and the power cylinder, the upper limit of movement of the pistons 27 and 29 may be determined. For

example, if the piston 29 passes above the point of connection with pipe 71, the oil will pass out through the pipe 71 and the oil in the cylinder 30 will be ineffective to move the grease piston 27 farther.

After the grease piston has reached its final position, it is necessary to release the oil in the cylinder 30, so that the spring 34 can retract the grease piston 28 preparatory to inserting a fresh supply of grease to the cylinder 18. Such release of the oil may be effected by any suitable means such, for example, as a connection by means of a pipe 73' between the discharge end of the check valve 44 and the'upper part of the chamber 38, and a valve 74 in said pipe 73 and controlled by a hand wheel 75. When the valve 74 is opened, the spring 34 will force the oil in the cylinder 30 downwardly and out of the same through the pipes 37 and 73. This action will continue until the pistons 27 and 29 have reached their lowermost positions.

To protect the parts from dirt and other material which may fall thereon and at the same time render it easy to get access to the screws 26, 50' and 69 there is provided a cover 76 having a lateral wall shaped to correspond with the top of provided with a recess to receive the lower end of the cylinder 18, and with an opening extending downwardly to the lower surface of the foundation and receiving the upper end of a casing 81 toreceive the powerfcylinder and associated. parts. 7 v V In ordinary use, the operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows: Assuming that the cylinder 18 contains a'sufiicient amount of grease and that there is a requisite amount of oil in the chamber '38 of the hydraulic system, each depression of the rail 10 rocks the lever 53 to raise the plunger 45 against the action of the spring 4'7,.thereby causing oil from the chamber 38 to flow through the check valve 42 into the duct or passage 41 and oil to flow into the chamber 39. As soon as the wheel causing a depression passes the lever 53, the rail moves upwardly and permits the spring 4'7 to depress the plunger to force oil through the check valve 44 into the pipe 3'7 and oil from this pipe into the power cylinder to raise the power piston 29 and'consequently the grease piston to feed grease to the rail.

This pumping action will be repeated each time a wheel passes the lever 53 and the grease piston gradually raised. If movement of the grease piston is blocked in any manner, the expanding action of the spring will be prevented and the pumping stopped. Otherwise the piston 29 will be raised until it passes above the end of the pipe '71 whereupon the oil will pass through this pipe back to the chamber 38 and the upward movement of the piston 29 will stop. When this condition is discovered by an inspector; the cover 56 will be swung open. Preferably the cap 24 is then released and removed and such removal is followed by the opening of the valve '74 which permits oil to flow around the check valve 44 and back to the chamber 38 while the power piston 29 and grease piston 2'7 are returned to their lowermost positions, passage of the oilthrough the pipe '71 being prevented by downward movement of the power piston across its end. The grease receptacle 18 may be filled through the tubular portion 21 of the cover 19. Upon replacing the cap 24 and securing it in position, the lubricator will again be in condition for operation. Whenever it is found to be desirable the rate of the feed of the grease may be varied by adjusting the screw 69.

It should also be understood that the term grease whenever it appears in the specification and claims is intended to refer to lubricant which is relatively stiff and slow flowing.

trolled by the passage of wheels along the railfor forcing grease from said receptacle through such directing means, said hydraulic means including a pump plunger, a spring for producing the power strokes' of said plunger, and a lever engaging the lower side of said rail for actuation thereby to retract said plunger.

2. A'lubricator for a rail, including a grease receptacle, means for directing grease from said receptacle to said rail, and hydraulic means for forcing grease from said receptacle through said directing means, said hydraulic means including a pump and pump operating means actuated'by the passage of wheels along the rail, said pump operating means being rendered ineffective by excessive pressure in said hydraulic means.

3. A lubricator for a rail, including a grease receptable, means for directing grease from said receptacle to said rail, hydraulic means for forcing grease from said receptacle through said direct,- ing means including a pump, a chamber containing fluid for said pump, an intake check valve between said chamber and pump, an outlet check valve for said pump, and adjustable means for bypassing fluid from a point between said check valves to said chamber and thereby controlling the supply of grease to said rail.

4. A lubricator for a rail, including a, greasecontaining cylinder, means for directing grease from said cylinder to said rail, a piston in said 195 cylinder to expel grease therefrom to said directing means, a power cylinder, a power piston in the power cylinder, means for actuating the grease-expelling piston from the power piston, a receptacle for fluid, means controlled by the pas 1 10 sage of wheels along said rail for forcing fluid from said receptacle into said power cylinder and spring means to return said pistons when the pressure in the power cylinder is relieved.

5. A lubricator for-a rail, including a grease- ;.L15

containing cylinder, means for directing grease" from said cylinder to said rail, a piston in' said cylinder to expel grease therefrom to said directing means, a power cylinder, a power piston in the power cylinder, means for actuating the ,120 grease-expelling piston from the power. piston, a receptacle for fluid, means controlled by the passage of wheels along said rail for forcing fluid from said receptacle into said power cylinder, spring means to return said pistons when the pressure in the power cylinder is relieved, and means for establishing a connection between the fluid intake end of the power cylinder and said receptacle to enable said spring to return the pistons and return the fluid in the power cylinder'to said receptacle.

6. A lubricator for a rail, including a grease receptacle, means for directing grease from said receptacle to said rail, and hydraulic means controlled by the passage of wheels along the rail for forcing grease from said receptacle throughsuch directing means, said hydraulic means including a pump plunger, yielding'means for producing the power strokes of said plunger, and means for retracting said plunger including a part engaging the lower side of said rail for actuation thereby upon depression thereof.

'7. A lubricator for a rail, including a grease receptacle, meansfor directing grease from said receptacle to said rail, and hydraulic means con- 5 trolled by the passage of wheels along the rail for forcing grease from said receptacle through such directing means, said hydraulic means including a pump plunger, a spring for producing the power strokes of said plunger, means for adjusting the 5o effect of said spring and means actuated by depression of the rail for retracting said plunger.

8. A lubricator for a rail, including a grease receptacle, means for directing grease from said receptacle to said rail, and hydraulic means controlled by the passage of wheels along the rail for forcing grease from said receptacle through such directing means, said hydraulic means including a pump plunger, means including a member cooperating with the lower side of the rail for actuation thereby to move the plunger in one direction, and means for returning said plunger when the rail rises.

9. A lubricator for a rail, including a grease receptacle, means for directing grease from said receptacle to said rail, and hydraulic means contolled by the passage of wheels along the rail for forcing grease from said receptacle through such directing means, said hydraulic means including a pump chamber, a pump member therein movable in one direction to draw liquid into said chamber and in the other direction to expel liquid therefrom, means including a member actuable downwardly by the rail to move said pump member in one direction, and means for returning said pump member when the rail rises.

10. A lubricator for one of the rails of a track, including a grease receptacle, means for directing grease from said receptacle to such rail, and hydraulic means controlled by the passage of wheels along the track for forcing grease from said receptacle through such directing means, said hydraulic means including a pump member movable in one direction to draw liquid into said chamber and in the opposite direction to expel liquid from the chamber, means including a member actuable by one of said rails to move said pump member in one direction and means for returning said pump member when the rail moves in the opposite direction.

ROBERT S. MENNIE.

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